AMHERST, Mass. (AP) -- Starting with the next freshman class, the
University of Massachusetts will give less emphasis to race and SAT
scores in admitting students, administrators said Wednesday.

The new process grows from worry that the school's old system of
affirmative action in admissions was susceptible to court
challenge, administrators say. It builds on an interim policy put
in place last year.

Administration spokeswoman Kay Scanlan said the new system is
apt to lower undergraduate minority enrollment slightly from the
current 17.8 percent. But administrators said they hope it won't,
given expanded efforts to attract and keep minority students.

"We must continue to admit a diverse student body, not only for
the benefit of students, but also for the good of the campus and
for the good of the economy in an ever more diverse world," said
Chancellor David K. Scott.

In the new process, candidates with the highest grade point
averages and SAT scores will normally be admitted outright.
Candidates with the lowest grades and test scores will ordinarily
be rejected.

But in a middle group, equal to about 30 percent of applicants,
a point system will decide who is admitted. It will ignore SATs,
which are sometimes criticized as unfair to minorities, and instead
give a maximum of 75 percent weight to grades. A maximum of 25
percent weight will be given for state residency, personal
achievement, and potential contributions to diversity on campus.

For example, up to 5 percent of an applicant's points can come
from attending a low-income high school or belonging to a racial or
ethnic minority. Another 5 percent can come from overcoming
adversity in education. Scanlan said all of these factors can
potentially boost minority applicants.

Overall, about two-thirds of an expected 21,000 applicants will
be invited to attend. The existing cap of 25 percent on
out-of-state students enrolled as undergraduates will stay in
place, Scanlan said.

As it was formulated, the new policy came under attack by some
minority students, who view it as unfair. The administration's
announcement of the final policy came during winter break, though,
when many students go home. Asif Sayani, a junior from Pakistan,
predicted a stir when students return next week.

Though he approves of rewarding effort and compensating for
economic disadvantages, he said such a system need not reduce
minority enrollment at all. "I definitely think that we are
stepping back into our past," he said.

Jennifer Teixeira, a Hispanic sophomore from New Bedford, said
she is glad about the new emphasis on income, though. "If you're
at a lower income school, it doesn't really matter what background
you come from," she said. "You're still going to be
disadvantaged."

Jim Eltringham, a white junior from Charlton, said the new
system will take account of broader problems that just racism.
"The easy way is not always the right way. It would be easy to set
a quota," he said.